5 Reasons Mental Health Conversations Matter

By Your Health Magazine

Far too many people struggle to discuss mental health. Not only that, they don’t understand why they even need to have these discussions. The reality is that when you fail to talk about a problem, it often becomes much larger and gets much worse. Thus, what could have been a simple conversation or time spent in therapy can snowball into severe damage. It can even lead to self-harm and suicide. In short, mental health conversations matter for many reasons.

1. Awareness Is the First Step to Getting Help

If you or someone you know struggles with mental health, you can’t get help until you acknowledge it. You acknowledge it by talking about it with someone — anyone. Contrary to the popular expression, ignorance is not bliss. It may seem that way in the beginning, while you’re happily running and hiding from the symptoms. But eventually, the symptoms escalate, the side effects become intense, and you have to confront it in the end anyway.

When you recognize your struggle and talk to someone about it, you can get help. Whether your mental health issue is run-of-the-mill sadness, growing depression, anxiety, or something else, you deserve treatment. You might just need to have a few sessions with a counselor, or you could benefit from a mental health rehab. Whatever the case, don’t let your suffering go undiscussed because you feel like your mental health doesn’t matter.

2. The Stigma Lessens

If you’re not talking about a mental health issue, know that you’re not alone. There is a stigma around mental health still to this day that keeps people afraid to bring up their struggles. Many years ago, actress and model Brooke Shields talked openly about her experience with postpartum depression and antidepressants. In response, Tom Cruise publicly slammed her, saying women should “just take vitamins.” This stigma still exists.

The good news is that the more people like Shields open up, the less power that stigma has. Shields herself recently said she’s grateful Cruise criticized her because it created more conversations around postpartum depression. This shift takes place because there are millions of people with mental illness in the United States. So when one person speaks up, it becomes easier for others to do the same.

3. Talk Therapy Works

Perhaps the most obvious reason to have conversations about mental health is because talking works! When you don’t talk about what you’re going through, you tend to get stuck in your head about it. You run through worse-case scenarios, or even worse, you turn to the internet for help. The last thing you need is an internet diagnosis or to hear about all the tragic cases similar to your own. Instead, you want to talk to a real, live person.

Whether it is a therapy session online or in-person, as long as you’re working through your thoughts on mental health — yours or that of someone you love — you can work through it. Talking things out helps you identify your emotions, understand rational and irrational fears, and change your reactions to your feelings. Be honest about your struggles and be open-minded to treatment, and having these conversations can be life-changing.

4. Community Has a Positive Impact

Another way mental health conversations are life-changing is through community. Having group discussions around a painful topic has the opposite effect of scrolling for an online diagnosis. Sitting in a room, real or virtual, with others who have shared mental health experiences can give you a new perspective on what you’re going through. It can also help you be accountable for your actions and for your own healing because your group members check in with each other.

If you can find group therapy in your city, it can save you money and foster a sense of community with your neighbors. If not, you can look for group counseling sessions online. The key is to find one led by an experienced, qualified professional who can ensure the tone remains positive and productive. Over time, you can gain confidence in your ability to overcome and even help others in your group through their healing process.

5. Mental Illness Is Isolating

The final, and maybe biggest, reason that mental health conversations matter is that mental illness is isolating. Whether it’s you or someone you love, struggling you can end up feeling like you’re the only one, like no one can help you, and like it will only get worse. These types of disastrous feelings tend to escalate, so you start pushing people away and refusing help even when it’s offered.

One of the best actions you can take if you’re feeling stressed more than usual, depressed, anxious, or mentally unhealthy in any way — or you know someone who is — is to tell the people you trust. Make sure you talk to someone that you think of as kind, loving, and supportive. Because, of course, telling the wrong person can lead to further ridicule and isolation. The more comfortable you get talking about it, the more likely you are to find the right pathway to help yourself or the person you love.

The bottom line is this: the world needs to get more comfortable having conversations about mental health. People from all walks of life struggle with mental illness. Some of it is genetic, some of it is environmental. Regardless, it all requires awareness and work to get the necessary healing. So, don’t shy away from these important conversations. If you’re struggling, open up to someone you trust. If someone opens up to you, let them. You could be saving a life.